Method of and means for recovering submarine deposits



H. A. PAYTON Oct. 11, 1938.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR RECOVERING SUBMARINE DEPOSITS Filed Jan. 6, 1938 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 11, 1938 ,7 METHOD OF AND' MEANS FOR. RECOVERING SUBMARINE' DEPOSITS 1 Harry A. Payton, San Luis Obispo, Calif. ApplicationJanua ry 6,1938, SerialNo. 183,700

f 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and means for recovering submarine deposits.

It is .well. known that ore-bearing sand frequently is found on ocean beds and more especially adjacent to the mouths of rivers. The sand is usually found in natural undulations or ripples Where the river currents are slowed down as they merge into the ocean. The sand thus deposited has been found to contain deposits of gold,silver, and other valuable metals usually .in very fine particles or flour. I

Heretofore recovery of these submarine deposits has been effected generally by means of dredges which have required the use of extensive equipment and high priced labor which frequent- 1y has not been justified by the values recovered.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of recovering the flour metal, the said method requiringthe use of the minimum amount of equipment which can be manipulated readily and requires little attention.

A further objectis toutilize oil under pressure as a medium foragitating the deposited sand;

encasingxthe flour gold or other valuable de- -,posits, and conveying the particles by flotation to the surface where it istrapped and subsequently subjected to a separating operation whereby the values are removed and the oil reused.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of certain new and novel steps in the method, and certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the invention.

In the accompanying drawing have been illustrated different types of equipment which can be used in carrying out the process.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a section through a barge or like structure equipped with apparatus for carrying out the process.

Figure 2 is a section through a modified means for agitating and collecting the deposited values.

Figure 3 is an elevation of a portion of another agitating means.

In carrying out the process it is essential that a floating structure be provided. This can be in the nature of a barge l and it is preferred to. form this structure with a well 2 extending therethrough from top to bottom. The barge can be employed as a means for holding oil or, as shown in Figure hail-containing tanks 3 can be mounted in the barge, these tanks being suitably conever, that any other type of oil container can be used or the barge itself can constitute an oil tank.

In the structure illustrated in Figure l a continuous apron 5 is extended downwardly from the ends and sides of the barge so as to provide an area of water completely surrounded by the apron and communicating with the bottom of the well 2.

A pipe line 6 is extended downwardly from the bargeand terminates at its lower end in a nozzle 1 which can be of the type used in placer mining or'of any preferred construction capable of performing the work intended. This pipe line 6 is designed to receive oil from a pump 8 which, in turn, is supplied with oil from one of the tanks 3 or other containers in which the oil normally is stored.

Also opening into the pipe 6, preferably at its upper end; is an air delivery pipe 9 leading from an air pump Ill driven by a motor H or the like.

A suction pipe I2 is supported within the well 2 and terminates a short distance below the level of the liquid in the well. This pipe communicates with a. suction pump 13 adapted to force liquid througha filter M of any desired construction in which separation of minerals from oil can be effected and from which the oil can be discharged back into one of the tanks 3 or other oil containers. As the construction of the filter constitutes no part of the present invention, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate or describe the same in detail.

In carrying out the method, the barge l is anchored above the value-bearing sand and the pipe 6 is then lowered so that nozzle 1 is supported in close proximity to the sand. Oil is then forced downwardly through the pipe and will escape forcibly in the form of a spray, into the sand which thus will be agitated and dislodged. The released oil has an aflinity for the flour metal mixed with the sand and will quickly encase the particles. As the specific gravity of the oil is less than that of the water,

the oil globules with the encased values, willsuck the oil upwardly through pipe l2 and deliver it to filter l4. At this point the oil will be separated from the metals after which it will be returned to the container 3 from which it can again be used in the same manner as already described.

The agitation of the sand can be accelerated and the flotation of the globules facilitated by the use of air under pressure. This can be directed in pipe 6 while the oil is being directed thereinto so that a spray made up of a mixture: of air and oil under pressure will be delivered against the sand deposits.

In Figure 2 the pipe line 15 has been shown extending straight down to a downwardly extending nozzle l6 and a funnel-like deflectoror apron IT has been shown surrounding. a large tubular well l8 so that dislodged value-bearing sand and the oil commingled therewith, will be trapped and then deflected upwardly into the well from which the oil and encased metals can be withdrawn as heretofore explained. In this. arrangement oil alone can be used or a mixture of oil and air.

If perferred the oil and the can be directed downwardly against the sanddeposits through separate pipelines as shown atv t9: and 20 in Figure 3. Each pipe line has arr outlet nozzle 2|: and oil will be delivered through one of these nozzles while air is being delivered from the other nozzle and as both the oil and the air are under pressure, they will effectively act to agitate the sand deposits and elevate the values: to the surface as already explained.

Under some conditions ordinary hydraulic nozzles can be used in connection with the air and/or oil nozzles to facilitate breaking up 'gsubmarine deposits which includes the step of directing an oil spray under pressure against sand containing mineral values, thereby to agitate the sand and expose the values for encasement by oil globules rising. to the surface of the .water.

2. The herein described method of recovering minute mineral particles from submarine sand deposits which includes the step of directing oil' and air under pressure into the sand to agitate the same and to release the metalparticles for encasement by globules of the oil and for movement with the oil by flotation to the surface of the water.

3. The herein described method of recovering submarine deposits which includes the step of directing an oil spray under pressure against sand containing mineral values, thereby to agitate the sand and expose the values for encasement by oil globules rising to the surface of the water, trapping, the metal-bearing oil at the surface, separating the trapped oil from the metals carried thereby, and returning the oil for reuse upon the sand deposits.

4. The hereindescribed method of recovering minute mineral particles from submarine sand deposits which includes the step of directing oil and air under pressure into the sand to agitate the same and to release the metal particles for encasement by globules of the oil and for movement with the oil by flotation to the surface of the water, trapping the metal-bearing oil at the surface, separating the trapped oil from the" metals carried thereby, and returning the oil for-reuse upon. the sand. deposits.

5. The method of rescoveri'ng metal values from. submarine sand deposits which includes the step of agitating the deposits and elevating the: values by flotation through the forcible application of oil to the sanddeposits- 6. The method. of recovering metal values from submarine sand deposits which includes the step oi agitating. the deposits and elevating the values by flotation through the iorcible application of oil-and to the sand. deposits.

'7. Apparatus: for use in the recovery of sub-' marine metal values including; a floating 'struc-- ture having a well, a nozzle suspended below the structure, means for directing oil into said nozzle: under pressure for emersion as a jet or spray against the sanddeposit, thereby to form globules. of oil for encasement with metals released by the agitation of the sand and forflotation with said metals tcwthe surface of thewater,

there being a well in the floating structure for" HARRY A. PAYTON. 

